Because It Is Bitter, and Because It Is My Heart (surprisingly not by or about BC)

Intrepid Reader: morpheus

"Atlas Shrugged"?

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This is so bad, I'd root for the Orioles over this fucking team, but I can't. Because they're a fucking drug and you can't kick it and they'll never win anything and they'll always suck, but it'll always be sunny at Wrigley and there will be tits and ivy and an old scoreboard and fucking Chads.

I just finished this. I really enjoyed it. I've read a ton about WW II, but prettymuch nothing about WW I. I was worried it might presuppose a deep generalknowledge of the war (most WW II books seem to assume you've already read them) but it thankfully didn't. I'd have liked a little more detail of the actualengagements and a little less Tolkien crap about which generals liked to havelong formal meals, but overall it was a compelling story.

I just finished this. I really enjoyed it. I've read a ton about WW II, but prettymuch nothing about WW I. I was worried it might presuppose a deep generalknowledge of the war (most WW II books seem to assume you've already read them) but it thankfully didn't. I'd have liked a little more detail of the actualengagements and a little less Tolkien crap about which generals liked to havelong formal meals, but overall it was a compelling story.

I had no idea Sir John French was such a pussy.

As far as I'm concerned, if you only read one book on WWI in your entire life, Keegan's will suffice. If you'd like a book written by a former student of Keegan's that's also a really good one volume history that uses a slightly different approach and explores some different topics, pick up The First World War by Hew Strachan.

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"Wherever he ends up, he has 30-homer, .400 OBP potential, and should challenge for MVP awards once he has a few years in the majors."

Although "Guns of August" is perhaps her best known and most widely read book, I was stunned by "A Distant Mirror", about the final Crusade and its impact on European history. Had that Crusade not happened, or had it ended earlier we would all be speaking French today.

« Last Edit: April 20, 2010, 04:18:58 PM by CBStew »

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If I had known that I was going to live this long I would have taken better care of myself. (Plagerized from numerous other folks)

Although "Guns of August" is perhaps her best known and most widely read book, I was stunned by "A Distant Mirror", about the final Crusade and its impact on European history. Had that Crusade not happened, or had it ended earlier we would all be speaking French today.

I've read that one. I liked it quite a bit.

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"...by the time he stepped to the plate, he was more than 60% of the way toward being on first base already.

Although "Guns of August" is perhaps her best known and most widely read book, I was stunned by "A Distant Mirror", about the final Crusade and its impact on European history. Had that Crusade not happened, or had it ended earlier we would all be speaking French today.

Although "Guns of August" is perhaps her best known and most widely read book, I was stunned by "A Distant Mirror", about the final Crusade and its impact on European history. Had that Crusade not happened, or had it ended earlier we would all be speaking French today.

One of the greatest history books of all time. Saying the word "Coucy" over and over again in my head, on the other hand, became annoying.

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This is so bad, I'd root for the Orioles over this fucking team, but I can't. Because they're a fucking drug and you can't kick it and they'll never win anything and they'll always suck, but it'll always be sunny at Wrigley and there will be tits and ivy and an old scoreboard and fucking Chads.

Was there a different thread where D-Day and Ambrose's other books were discussed? That sucks if it was Ratto'd.

I'm about halfway through D-Day and I just finished reading about the exploits of one Harrison Summers. He may well be the baddest dude ever.

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His unit took the town of Saint-Germain-de-Varreville, near Exit 4 off Utah Beach. He, along with about 15 men of various units, was ordered by 1st Battalion commander, Lt Col. Patrick Cassidy, to take a group of buildings nearby designated "WXYZ" on the field order map. The buildings turned out to be the barracks for 100 or more German troops.[1]

Summers led the attack, charging inside with his Thompson submachine gun. He assumed the others would follow, but they did not. He proceeded on, first single-handedly then with Private Camien's help, through each of the buildings, cleaning them out. Five hours later, the position was clear, and over 30 bodies of German troops were counted.

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Summers is a legend with American paratroopers [sic], the Sergeant York of World War II. His story has too much John Wayne/Hollywood in it to be believed, except that more than 10 men saw and reported his exploits.